One Man Show

The Amerind Museum is currently hosting a show of 27 of my photographs of "Walls, Windows and Doors". The following is from the Amerind Foundation's press release announcing the show:

What: Walls, Windows and Doors, an exhibit by professional photographer Joe Kozlowski

Where: The Amerind Museum

When: May 1-December 31, 2012

Exhibit description: Professional photographer Joe Kozlowski’s stunning photography examines the Walls, Windows and Doors of the American Southwest’s ancient ruins and historic structures. The photographer captures the artistry of ancient architectural elements, likening them to abstract impressionist paintings. For Kozlowski, the subject matter is a metaphor for human interaction: walls which isolate us, windows that provide us with insights into each other, and doors that help us connect. The changing nature of these structures from ancient Native American towns to recent Spanish Colonial churches poses questions for us. How have the functions of walls, windows and doors changed over time and between the cultures that created them?

About the Photographer: Joe Kozlowski is the son of a portrait/landscape artist and an elementary school teacher. He has been involved with photography as an amateur, semi-professional and professional since he was a child. With a background in cultural anthropology, his photos reveal the artistry in human structures and objects. Kozlowski’s photography is available in book form through Blurb.com. They are also on display on-line at FineArtAmerica.com.

About the attached image: A signature piece of the exhibit, this photograph by Joe Kozlowski shows the doors of Pueblo Bonito, a ruin in New Mexico that was first built over one thousand years ago.

You can find out more about the Amerind Foundation and Museum on-line at Amerind.org.

One Man Show - "Walls, Windows and Doors"

(Press Release courtesy of The Amerind Foundation)

What: Walls, Windows and Doors, an exhibit by professional photographer Joe Kozlowski

Where: The Amerind Museum (www.amerind.org)

When: May 1-December 31, 2012

Exhibit description: Professional photographer Joe Kozlowski’s stunning photography examines the Walls, Windows and Doors of the American Southwest’s ancient ruins and historic structures. The photographer captures the artistry of ancient architectural elements, likening them to abstract impressionist paintings. For Kozlowski, the subject matter is a metaphor for human interaction: walls which isolate us, windows that provide us with insights into each other, and doors that help us connect. The changing nature of these structures from ancient Native American towns to recent Spanish Colonial churches poses questions for us. How have the functions of walls, windows and doors changed over time and between the cultures that created them?

About the Photographer: Joe Kozlowski is the son of a portrait/landscape artist and an elementary school teacher. He has been involved with photography as an amateur, semi-professional and professional since he was a child. With a background in cultural anthropology, his photos reveal the artistry in human structures and objects. Kozlowski’s photography is available in book form through Blurb.com. They are also on display on-line at Fine Art America.

About the attached image: A signature piece of the exhibit, this photograph by Joe Kozlowski shows the doors of Pueblo Bonito, a ruin in New Mexico that was first built over one thousand years ago.

Texas Canyon Revisited

People visiting the Amerind often comment on what a nice place Texas Canyon would be to live. Actually, people have been saying that for thousands of years. the canyon is filthy with archaeological potential. I imagine that's why William Shirley Fulton purchased the 1,600 acre ranch in the canyon in 1930.

John Wayne used to stay at the Triangle T Guest Ranch in the canyon while filming in the area.

During WW-II the guest ranch was commandeered by the Federal government as a place to hold under house arrest the entire diplomatic staff of the Japanese embassy from Hawaii.

Projects Update

Amerind - Window / Gallery-Library

The Amerind Foundation has asked me to prepare a screen saver product that they can sell in their gift shop based on the images I did for the "Treasures of the Amerind" book. As a second project (and another gift shop product offering) I'm doing a series of pictures of the architectural details of the Merrit Starkweather buildings that make up the Amerind facilities. The buildings were designed and constructed during a period from 1930 to 1958 and include the main house (William Shirly Fulton's family home in Dragoon, Arizona), the museum, and the library as well as a number of surrounding out buildings.

We also plan to offer high quality matted prints of a number of the images from the book and from the series of architectural details in the gift shop. I need to make some time to cut the mats and shrink wrap. Given our move, I doubt that I'll be doing much before September in that regard.

Interestingly enough, one of the images I used for Wikipedia attracted the attention of a company in California that manufacturers a veterinary joint lubricant for horses. Their advertising agency in Kentucky dropped me a note asking if they could use the photo in an advertising brochure. Of course, in order to use the image on Wikipedia, I released the copyright to public domain so there's no money in it for me ... just the bragging rights. they asked if i had "model releases" for the people in the picture. I don't THINK so! ... there are at least 38 people in the image as well as pieces and parts of any number of other people!

Up the Down Staircase

Homage to M. C. Escher

The stairwell in the gallery at the Amerind Foundation.


Just Another Way of Looking At It

Native Voices

From Native Voices

A reading of poetry and from short stories by the authors at the Amerind Foundation in Dragoon, AZ.

It struck me as I watched these Native people tell their stories. A true cultural dialog happens when we exchange our stories.

I grew up next door to the Onondaga Nation in Central New York ... at the center of the Iroquois Confederacy. Some four or five hundred years ago the Jesuits came down from Canada with the fur trappers and traders. I have had a painting of the scene in my head most of my life. The scene is a Jesuit priest standing among the seated Onondagas, telling his Jesuit stories while the Onondagas respectfully listened.

Today, at the Amerind, I saw a similar scene. This time the Native people were standing while the whites respectfully sat and listened to the Native stories.

I can only apologize for it having taken so long to yield the floor. We would all be so much better off if it had happened a long time ago.

From Native Voices

I had the good fortune to be there and take some pictures that the Foundation may (or may not) use in their monthly newsletter.

Treasures of the Amerind

Almost finished!!


Click image for sample images from
the book, "Treasures of the Amerind".

The only things missing are:

• Captions for about 12 pictures and
  
• Re-write of the Introduction

Neither of those things are in my hands ... so, I can say I'm finished with the book.

As soon I get the captions and the intro re-write we can publish. Then the book goes on sale exclusively through the Gift Shop at the Amerind Foundation in Dragoon, Arizona.

Here's a quick preview. Actually, there's much more to it but, this gives the idea: